As 85-jähriger he was probably selected as a compromise candidate to the Pope. Although it at this time already since46 years a cardinal was, he no Priesterweihe had received and was only deacon. Therefore it became to 13. April1191, which Karsamstag geweiht, to the priest and one day later at the Ostersonntag to the bishop. At the second Osterfeiertag of the yearly 1191 it had the GermansKing Heinrich VI. crown on its first Italy course in Rome to the emperor of the holy Roman realm. Against its plans to possibly also secure the German Königtum and for the house high baptism durably in the long run successfully opposed it, although it was otherwise powerless opposite Heinrich.Thus this refused that to it after conquest Siziliens and Neapels is.

Coelestin tried at the end of of 1197, voluntarily in favor of of theof it as a successor cardinal di San Paolo favored Giovanni to resign, which was prevented however by oppositional forces in the Kardinalkollegiums. Coelestin III. died to 8. January1198 in Rome.